Recommended Games

Your Ride: 1969 Pontiac Firebird

Diana KyDon resides in Upstate NY, but her ride is no calm family sedan. No, she wakes up the neighbors with her ‘Velocity Red’ 1969 Pontiac Firebird. For those of you who know Firebird spec sheets by heart, hers comes set up with the 350 cubic inch (5.7-liter) V8 with a Turbo 400 transmission.

This baby is original with all matching numbers. It has been outfitted with American Racing Torqe Thrust II 17-inch wheels, and from the photos here, you can see it has an immaculate interior with intact uncut dash. The factory options on this car include; AM radio, air conditioning, rear defrost and power steering. Dianna was kind enough to share this beautiful machine with us, for this week’s edition of “Your Ride.”

How did you acquire your ride?

This has always been my dream car. Even as a kid, growing up, I wanted this car. My mother drove (and still does) her 1969 Pontiac Custom S everyday, and I always wanted a Firebird of the same year. I even remember making up a list of my ‘Dream Cars’ that I hoped to own at one time in my life, and this was #1 on that list. My husband very much wanted me to have my #1 Dream Car, and after years of searching, what seemed like a million phone and email exchanges with prospective sellers, hundreds of miles to view cars, he found me this one. After all that, it was right in our home town.

What drew you to it when you bought it?

This was ‘the one’. It was the correct motor I wanted (and is still matching numbers) the interior color I wanted (black) and the color was the exact color I would have painted another one if I had found one. This car spoke to me, and after my husband’s careful inspection, it was ours.

Does it have a name?

It does not have a name per-se but its plate is ‘F1NEBIRD’, and I think it fits.

What do you feel like when you drive it?

A million bucks. There’s no way to describe it. It has over 400 horses, and a great feel. The loud, low rumble, the rock at idle from the cam. It’s something you really need to ride in to appreciate.

What would you change about your car, if anything?

I wouldn’t change anything. I would finish buttoning up the tiny details that aren’t done yet on the restoration.

That’s a tough one. I’ve considered removing and storing my original matching numbers motor and replacing it with a bored and blown 400. But that’s not really an accessory…. Accessory wise, I don’t think I would add anything.